Letter: Jackson public schools suffer because of irresponsible state cuts

Your recent story about the Jackson Public Schools (“Jackson Public Schools looking at $2.7 million budget shortfall next year, cuts on the way,” May 14) explained how the district is planning to cut 14 teaching positions and school supplies to save the district $1 million.

What it fails to discuss is how those cuts will impact students. Likely, they will mean more students crammed into classrooms and fewer academic opportunities.

Why are our schools being forced into this horrific situation? Because Lansing politicians slashed school funding by nearly $1 billion to pay for their $1.8 billion tax giveaway to corporate special interests. For Jackson schools, last year’s cut meant our students lost more than $1 million.

House Republicans want to continue these irresponsible cuts in 2012-13. We must restore every cent that was taken from our kids’ schools, and we must do it now before it’s too late.